2009

A full range of events takes place across the estate throughout the year, for further details and before your journey, please telephone +44 (0)1223 206000

*Booking essential Telephone 01223 206000
† Normal admission charges apply plus small charge for craft materials

The experience of a lifetime learning to drive these gentle giants in wonderful surroundings. These one-day courses with Wimpole’s Shires cost £115 per person and are held from April to end-October, pre-booking is essential. Weekend and weekday dates available.

January
March
May
July
September
November

February
April
June
August
October
December

Tuesdays in June & July
History & Hoes
Enjoy a guided tour of Wimpole Gardens , looking at how they have developed over the years and the techniques used in caring for them today.  Morning and afternoon tours. Normal Admission

Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July, 1-4pm
Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July, 1-4pm
Hay Making
Throughout these weekends we will be making Hay on the Front Lawns of Wimpole.  Free.  Weather dependent.

Back to top

Sunday 5 July, 10am-4pm
Digital Photography Workshop

Saturdays in July
Wimpole Estate Arable Farm Tour*
A one-hour tour starting at 11.00
A tractor ride around the arable farm with the Farm Manager. The farm is in conversion to organic production, learn about the crops grown and the challenges ahead.
£2.00  

4 July - 31 August 
Art Gallery Exhibitions
Sally Jane Perrin SBA
Coast, Countryside, and Cottage Garden: detailed water-colours of flowers, fruits, vegetables, insects and sea-shells.
(Sat to Wed, Plus Thurs 23 July onwards)

Friday 10 July, 6pm
Open Air Theatre – Alice in Wonderland*
Cambridge Touring Theatre perfo rms a wonderfully adapted and funny version of Alice in Wonderland, a play for the whole family from aged two to ninety two - and above!  Staged in the atmospheric setting of the Old Rectory Garden with a barebecue and refreshments from 5.00pm.
Adult £13, child £9, family £43 (2 adults, 2 children)

Sunday 19 July, 10.30am-5pm
National Garden Scheme Open Day
All proceeds from admission charges to the gardens on this day go towards NGS.
Normal garden admission applies

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July, 11am-4pm
Beef and Ale Weekend
A celebration of Wimpole beef and delicious ale, with talks, demonstrations, meat and ale sales and tasting sessions. 
Normal Farm admission

Saturday 18 July, 7.30pm
Jazz on a Summers Evening  – The Bright Stars of Jazz*
Open air concert in the Stables, featuring The Bright Stars of Jazz, who aim to recreate good-time driving jazz in the style of Eddie Condon, Louis A rms trong, Wild Bill Davison. Come along, bring your chair, a picnic, sit back and enjoy the jazz rhythms.
Adult £17 Child £9

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 July
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July
10.30am-5pm
Archaeological Excavation
Cambridge Archaeology Field Group dig to discover the hidden past in the gardens at Wimpole.
Normal garden admission applies

Sunday 26 July, 11am-4pm
Archaeology Day
Discover the hidden past at our day devoted to archaeology, with live dig, children's test pit, exhibits and much more!
Normal Garden Admission applies

Sunday 26 July, 11am or 2pm
A walk along the village street
A guided walk with National Trust Archaeologist Angus Wainwright looking at the archaeology under your feet, includes the village street and house platforms still visible in the park, where you can imagine some of their ancient inhabitants.
Adult £5 Child £2.50

21 July to 1 September, 1.30-4.00pm †
Tuesday afternoons
Busy below stairs
At the end of the normal visitor route explore the basements and meet Wimpole’s Victorian servants at work and take part in children’s activities.

21 July to 1 September Saturday to Thursday 10.30am-5pm
Bale Maze at Home Farm
Work out how to reach the centre of our giant bale maze, don’t get lost!
Normal Farm Admission

Friday 24 July, 7.30pm
Open Air Theatre –As you like it*
Heartbreak Theatre Company perform one of Shakespeare ' s wittiest and best-known comedies - humour, wordplay, entangled love affairs, melancholy and optimism - all set in a charming, pastoral environment recreated in the Old Rectory Garden.  Bring a chair or rug to sit on.  Barbecue and refreshments from 6.30pm
Adult £13, child £9, family £43 (2 adults, 2 children)

‘Wild Child’ at Wimpole
Throughout the summer holidays explore Wimpole with our free Family trails for the Hall, Farm and Gardens.
Discover Wild Wimpole with our Park tracker packs.
Take part in these ‘Wild Child’ activities and receive a free ‘Join In’ pack to discover your wild side back at home.

Selected days throughout the summer school holidays.
Trip back in time
Come and meet characters from the past and discover how they worked and lived on a grand estate such as Wimpole.  
See our website or telephone phone for details.
Normal admission applies.

Back to top

Saturday 15 August to Thursday 27 August (as open days)
Second Hand Bookshop Summer Sale
Come and grab a second hand book bargain and help support the many conservation projects at Wimpole.

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, 10.30am-5pm
Tomato Festival
A chance to taste many of our fifty varieties of tomato growing in the Walled Kitchen Garden, along with many food stalls. Find out about how compost is made and how we grow our tomatoes, with lots of information and recipes on how best to use this underrated fruit.
Normal admission

Friday 21 August 8pm
Easy Virtue (PG)
National Trust Stately Screenings: brought to you by Sky in association with BAFTA and Screen East
Enjoy and evening of big screen, cinematic pleasure.  Bring seats, rugs and picnics.  For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/statelyscreeenings
Special thanks to Pathe for the screening of Easy Virtue.
Gates open 7pm, film begins at 8.45pm subject to light conditions.
Adults £12 Children £8 Family £42.  Tickets include a complimentary reception drink.  Booking Essential 01223 206000  

Saturday 22 August 8pm
Atonement (15)
National Trust Stately Screenings: brought to you by Sky in association with BAFTA and Screen East
Special thanks to Universal for the screening of Atonement.
Details as above.

Saturday 22 August
Kitchen Garden Day
Visit the Walled Kitchen Garden at Wimpole and discover how produce was grown for the Hall and Estate.  Take a look behind the scenes at the old Bothy buildings in the Walled Garden , including the Apple Store and Mushroom House.
Normal garden admission

Friday  28 August, 7.30pm
Open Air Theatre –Jane Austen’s Emma*
Join Heartbreak Theatre Company as this "handsome, clever, and rich" and "slightly" spoiled young woman throws herself in to the perils of misconstrued romance in this world-renowned and well-loved classic comedy. Immerse yourself in the squabbles, gossip and the more serious issue of who gets who in this uproarious and moving adaptation.   Set in the Old Rectory Garden with Barbecue and refreshments available from 6.30pm.  Bring a chair or rug to sit on. 
Adult £13, Child £9, Family £43

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, 11am-4pm
Pork and Apple Weekend
A celebration of Wimpole pork and delicious cider, with talks, demonstrations, meat and cider sales and tasting sessions. 
Normal Farm admission

BH Monday 31 August, 11am-4pm
Children’s Entertainer at Home Farm
Normal Farm Admission

Back to top

Tuesdays in September
History & Hoes
Enjoy a guided tour of Wimpole Gardens , looking at how they have developed over the years and the techniques used in caring for them today.  Morning and afternoon tours. Normal Admission

Saturday 5 September, 7.30pm
Saturday 12 September, 7.30pm
Wild about Bats *
Discover some of the many species found at Wimpole
Adults £5 Children £2.50  

Sunday 13 September
The Great Cambridgeshire Run 2009
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's and the British Heart Foundation's second Great Cambridgeshire Run.  Run distances are at 1 mile, 5.25 miles and half-marathon, or there's a 9.5 mile walk around Wimpole Estate.

Saturday 19 to Wednesday 23 September, 10.30am-5pm
Squash Display in the Walled Garden
Seasonal display of squash and pumpkins in the greenhouse, including Turks Turban, Crown Prince, Celebration and Butternut. Advice and recipes available to help you make the most of this wonderful vegetable.
Normal admission

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 10.30am-5pm
Wimpole at War
Join us as we commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the outbreak of WWII.  Meet the Home Guard, Army, ARP, civilians, Land Girls and lindy hoppers to name but a few. Enjoy the splendour of the vintage cars, cycles and tractors of a bygone era, as the estate comes to life, as it would have been over 60 years ago. Displays throughout the day, including military drills and dancing, culminating in the thoroughly entertaining Home Guard ‘ Battle School ’ at the end of the day. Children’s craft activities in the basements. Free children’s trail in the Hall. Themed menu at Old Rectory Restaurant and additional catering outlets across the site.
Adults £12, Child £6.50, Family £31.50. NT Members free. 
(small charge for Craft activities)

Back to top

Rams to Lambs
Each Saturday & Sundays morning in October, 12 noon
Open air presentation “Rams for Lambs” followed by an introduction to Wimpole’s Rare Breeds.
Normal Farm admission

Saturday 3 October
Jog for a bog
Cambridgeshire 10km Fun Run

Saturday 17 October, 8am
Wild About Mammals *
Discover the supper of the owls and falcons at Wimpole
Adult £5, child £2.50

Saturday 17 October, 11am
Wild About Fungi *
Discover the varied fungi at Wimpole and the many that live on trees
Adult £5, child £2.50

Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October, 11am – 4pm †
Wild Wimpole Week at Home Farm
Create spooky Halloween crafts throughout the day, plus butter making in the morning.

Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October, 11am – 4pm
From Heavy Horse to Show Horse
See how Harry and Alfie two of Wimpole’s Shire horses are prepared for showing from washing their feathers to plaiting their mane.
Normal Farm Admission

Friday 30 October, 6-9pm
Halloween at Wimpole*
Explore the Hall & Gardens at night and meet the strange inhabitants of Wimpole on this ghostly evening  but only if you dare! Timed Tickets in half hour slots between 6pm - 9pm.   Fancy dress recommended.  Spooky food available from the Restaurant.
Adult £7.50, child £6, family £26 (2 adults, 2 children)

Back to top

Wednesday 4 November, 11am
Heavy Horse Talk*
An introduction into the daily lives of Wimpole’s Shire horses, including an opportunity to meet these gentle giants.
£8 includes coffee on arrival  

Wednesday 11 November, 11am
Meet the Meat*
From breeding to the plate, a journey through the process our meat travels from choosing good blood lines to the joint on your table.
£8 includes coffee on arrival

Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 November 10.30am-5pm
Christmas Craft Fair
Set in heated marquees in the grounds, Wimpole ' s 14th Annual Christmas Craft Fair, has a wide array of independent craft producers and is the perfect opportunity for you to purchase those unique and unusual festive gifts for Christmas.
Admission £3.50 under 14s free, free parking.  
Further information for potential craft exhibitors

Back to top

Tuesday 1 December to Wednesday 16 December, 12 noon-2pm (Sat-Wed)
Turkey and Tinsel Time
Waitress served two or three course Christmas Lunches with Norfolk Black Turkeys raised at Wimpole Home Farm.
£25 / £29.50
Booking essential 01223 206001

Wednesday 2 December, 10am
Christmas Calligraphy Workshop*
Join professional calligrapher Penny Price to create decorative items to take home for Christmas. Discover techniques including embossing and stencilling. The morning is completed by a light lunch in our Farm Cafe.
£35

Tuesday 8 December & Wednesday 9 December, 10am
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop*
Members of Wimpole’s garden team lead these practical workshops which should see you end the session with a glorious evergreen wreath to take home, just in time for Christmas. The morning is completed by a light lunch in our Farm Cafe.
£35

Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 December
Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 December
11am-4pm
Wimpole’s Dickensian Christmas
Step back in time 150 years to discover the sights and sounds of a Dickensian Christmas and meet some the characters of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. Visit the Hall traditionally decorated for Christmas; meet the servants in the basements where children can join in festive craft activities.  Listen to the brass band playing traditional Christmas carols in the Stable Block amidst the scent of mulled wine and roast chestnuts, whilst Father Christmas hands out presents from his grotto in the Great Barn at Home Farm.
Adult £8.80 Child £4.95 NT Members free.

Back to top